Online Program

Panel Discussion

The purpose of this session is to provide educators, clinicians and public health practitioners with an understanding of small area methods and model-based estimates-–while reflecting on the context of their use for decision making processes by those in policy making roles. In March 2010, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, released the first annual County Health Rankings, a national effort to rank each county within the 50 states according to its health outcomes and the multiple factors that determine those outcomes. After 4 years of implementation, we are interested in continuing to improve the methods for measuring both outcomes and factors in small counties, and for determining the best modeling approaches for weighting measures in the factors. This session will provide attendees with an overview of the methodological work on small areas and model-based estimates, and provide an understanding of the issues facing those attempting to report on health across the nation. This session will highlight important research findings from three investigators. Their papers, described below, will describe approaches to improve the quality of measuring population health. Special discussion will include decision making within the context of complexity and understandability for policy makers and local public health entities.

Session Objectives: Describe the current model in use by the County Health Rankings, and potential shortcomings of the current methodology for addressing small areas. Describe an approach for addressing small areas that increases validity and reliability. Describe differences in modeling approaches and the errors associated with those modeling approaches. Describe areas of needed research when measuring the health of populations.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)